Fastening device



June 14, 1938. c. T.. PATTERSON l FASTENING DEVICE Filed NOV. 20, 1936 Patented June 14, 193s UNITY-Eo STATES PATENT f oFFicE 2,120,470 njas'rrzurlvd DEVICE Charley I. liattetson, Springfield, Mo. Application November 20, 1936, Serial No. 111,820

'z claims. (ci. zzo- 35) Another object of my device is to provide a.

means for fastening such walls together withoutV the use of staples, rivets, clips or the like.

A further object of my device is to provide a quick, easy meansfor uniting the walls by hand and without the tedious, .slow work inherent in other devices designed for such purposes.

`A further object of my invention is to provide a fastening for wall parts and the like whereby the fastening operation is accomplished by a transverse bending movement of the fastening elements instead of the usual vendwise or edgewise insertion of one part within a slot or openingin the other part.

An additional object of my invention is to pro-A vide a device suitable for use with double faced corrugated board or the like in whichone'of the elements is gripped` iiatwise between opposed Aedges of parts in the adjacent wall whereby the material of which the element is composed will be indented to form a groove in the'face of the element, the groove cooperating withthe edges of the adjacent sheet or wall to securely` unite the walls against-relative movement. 'Y

A-further purpose of my device is to provide a means that may berformed in boxes or the like 4o by the usual cutting-die processes employed for this purpose and in which the scoring may be accomplished at thefsame operation and on the same side of the material as the other usual scoring is made. For accomplishing th'e'se objects'I have -provided a tongue member hingedly attached to one of` the juxtaposed walls and in the other wall is provided an opening substantially co-registered with the tongue member and having a gate member lying within the opening and hingedly vconnected at one side thereof to the surrounding wall and lying co-.planar therewith, the hinged por.- tion of the tongue member being disposed transversely to-the hinged portion of the gate mem# ber. .Through vthis arrangement of parts the tongue member may be bent through the opening in the opposed wall, causing the gate member to be bent to one side to allow the tongue member to pass and thereafter the gate member isreturned'to its original position to bind the tongue s between its edge and the adjacent edge of the wall.v Throughout thisspec'ication and in the appended claims reference is made to the juxtaposed walls as inner and outer walls and it is expressly noted that the order of their relation 10 is reversible and .that the-tongue member and -the gate member may be transposed if conditions warrant such a change, the designation inner wall and outer wa being in the main terms to distinguish otherwise similar walls. 15

For a' further description of `my device reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig.1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my device as applied to abox corner. 20

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the tongue member of mydevice as embodied in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the gate member.

Fig. 4 shows the tongue member co-registered over the gate member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view vertically sectioned on line o b Fig. 4, showing how the parts are juxtaposed in operable relation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tongue member being passed through the 30 opening to displace the gate member..

Fig. '1 shows the tongue member bent sumciently to allow the gate member to be returned to its original position.

Fig. 8 shows the gate member returned to its 35 position co-planar with the wall and bindingthe tongue member therebetween.

Figs. 9, '10 and 11 are plan views showing another embodiment of my device in which the tongue member has a widened portion outwardly 40 of its hinged portion, Fig. 9 showing the tongue 'membexg Fig. 10 the lgate member and Fig. 11 the tongue co-registered over the gate member.

-Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of my invention in which a multiplicity 45 of tongue members and gate members are employed in one fastener.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are plan views showing the component parts used in Fig. l2, Fig. 13 showing the tongue members, Fig. 14 the gate members 50 and Fig. 15 indicating the manner of co-operative registration. Y

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 12 and showing the tongue mvnber being passed through the opening. 56

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the rear of the device disclosed, in Fig 12 showing the tongue members gripped between the gate members and the wall.

Fig. 18 shows the device (in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 9, 10 and 11) applied to a telescopic box cover and indicates the manner in which the tongue member may be folded against the inner face of the gate lmember to facilitate telescoping over the box.

In the following detailed description similar numerals refer to-similar parts throughout the several v iews.

In Fig. l, I represents the outer wall in juxtaposed relation to the inner wall 2. The outer wall is provided with an opening dened by the wall edges 3, 4 and 5 and the appendant tongue member 6. This opening substantiallyl overlies the gate portion I. In Fig. 2 is shown the outer wall I and the tongue member 6, surrounded by the wall edges 3, 4 and 5. 8 represents a scored line adjacent the juncture ofi the tongue 6 and the wall I. In Fig. 3 is shown the inner wall 2 with the gate member 'I having a scored line 9 at its juncture with the wall 2. Adjacent the scored line and substantially at right angles thereto is the wall edge I0 terminating in the wall edge II and completing the contour of `the opening in which the gate lies is the wall edge I2.

In Fig. 4 is shown-the outer wall I overlying the inner wall 2 with the tongue member overlying the gate member and registered in co-operative relation therewith. The scored lines are omitted in Fig. 4 for the purpose of clarity and the outline of the gate member in the underlying wall 2 be# ing indicated by the dotted lines III, II and I2. The scored line carried by the tongue member substantially overlies the edge IIJ of the gate member, and the scored line of the gate .1 substantially underlies the line 5 of the tongue.

Fig. 5, sectioned on line ab Fig. 4 shows the juxtaposed walls I and 2'with the tongue member 6 registered with the gate member "I, and indieating the scored line 8 which facilitates bending the tongue member and assists iny reducing the thickness of the tongue member along-the line at which it is gripped, inasmuch as the scored line affords a fulerum which aids in embedding the-wall edge III into the'tongue 6.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show stages in the operation of fastening the device disclosed in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6 the tongue member 6 is being passed through the opening in the inner wall. In Fig. 7 the tongue member is bent far enough inward to clear the gate member 7, While in Fig. 8 the gate member 'I is shown returned to its original position to bind the tongue member 6 between the gate member I and the Wall edge I0.

In Fig. 9 is shown another embodiment of the tongue member 6 in which its sides and the abutting wall edges 3 and 5 are formed at an angle to produce a tongue wider as it recedes from the scored line 8, and a gate member designedto co-operate with such a tongue member is shown in Fig. 10, the wall edge I I being formed at an angle similar to that of the tongue member at 3, Fig. 9. These members are shown juxtaposed in Fig'. 1l.

In the modification of my device shown in Figs.

12 te 17 inclusive two tongue members 6 and 6a are arranged in opposed relation and which before folding have their outer edges meeting on a' 'medial horizontal line 4 (Fig. 13). Also in this embodiment two gate members are arranged in opposed relation, I and 1a., and having their outer edges meeting on a median vertical line II (Fig. 14). Fig. 15 indicates the, manner of registration ofthese parts.

Fig. 16 a fastener of the dual type indicated in Fig. 12 is shown with one of the tongue members 6a bent inward to clear the gate members and showing the other tongue member 6 being started through the opening between the gate members. It will be noted that with this embodiment -the additional width of the tongues outwardly of their scored lines cause their outer edges to assume a curve longitudinally while passing through the opening while after clearing the inner wall they are permitted to straighten and after the gate members are returned to their original positions the widened outer portion of the tongues afford additional locking means as shown in the rear view of such a device, Fig. 17. Similar conditions prevail with the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive insofar as the widened tongue member is concerned, except that no impediment to the entrance of the tongue member exists on one side due to the fact that the side II of the opening in the inner wall 2 is formed at an angle which allows the tongue member to pass unobstructed.

The tongue member of my device may be folded against the face of the inner wall after'fastening or may be folded against the inner face of the gate member as indicated in Fig. 18 if for any .reason it is desired to do so to preventobstruction.

When my device is applied to a folding object such as a box or the like the parts are located in the unfolded piece in such manner that upon folding the piece the elements of the fastening device will be registered in the manner indicated herein while for separate pieces a similar registration is made between the parts prior to the fastening operation.

It will be noted that the operation of fastening is very simple. The tongue member is merely pushed sidewise (facewise) through the opening in the opposed wall, displacing the gate member which through its own resiliency has a tendencyto return to its original position afterthe tongue member is bent far enough inward to clear it. The .gate member is forced into the opening to its original position where it securely locks the tongue member in place against either transverse or radial movement. In this respect it will be noted that through forcing the tongue member against the edge I0 of the opening a groove is formed in the face of the tongue member resulting in a substantial hook or catch which eo-operates with the wall 2 to form` a secure lock. This condition is especially evident when the device is applied to wall board of the double faced corrugated type or other relatively soft board.

My device requires no tools, eliminates staples, brads, rivets, etc. and when completed the gate members close the opening tightly resulting in a continuous wall.

In the manufacture of objects embodying my device the incisions and`scoring may be accomplished at the same operation and at the same time other necessary cutting and scoring is done and a further advantage will be apparent to those familiar with the manufacture of such devices in that it is unnecessary to remove any portion of the material.

I claim:

1. A fastening device comprising adjacent juxtaposed walls, one of said walls having an opening therein, the other of said walls having a tongue member designed to swing transversely through said opening, -a gate member within said opening for locking said tongue member in place in such transverse relation to said walls, said gate mem-- ber having a hinged portion adjacent its juncture withV the adjoining wall, said hinged portion being substantially in right angled relation to the plane of said tonguevmember when said tongue member is in said transverse position.

. portion, the hinged portions of said tongue means and said gate means being angularly disposed.

3. A fastening device for attaching two facially opposed sheets together, comprising a tongue integral with one sheet and having a bending line adjacent said sheet, and a gate integral with the other sheet and having a bending line adjacent said latter sheet, said gate being positioned to underlie the tongue and with its bending line transverse to the bending line of said tongue, said gate having adjacent its bending line an edge substantially underlying the bending line of said tongue, the gate carrying sheet having a wall edge substantially abutting the aforesaid edge of the gate whereby the tongue may be gripped therebetween.

4. A fastener for securing sheets of bre board and the like together in face to face relation, comprising hinged tongue means formed integral with one sheet, and hinged gate means formed integral with and co-planar with an adjacent sheet and lying within an opening in said last namedsheet, said tongue means and said gate means having their hinged portions angularly disposed, said gate means substantially underlying said tongue means whereby when said tongue means is depressed transversely of the face of the sheets and against the gate means the latter will be correspondinglydeflected to allow the tongue means to pass through the opening and whereby upon returning the gate means to its original position the tongue means will be bound between said gate lmeans and the periphery of the opening adjacent the hinged portion of said gate means.

5. A fastening device comprising an outer wall, an inner wall, said walls being disposed in face to face relation, said outer wall being incised to form a tongue integral therewith, said 'tongue being scored on the inner side to form a bending line near its juncture with said outer wall, said inner wall being incised to form a gate integral therewith, said gate being scored on the inner side to form a bending line near its .juncture with said inner wall', said gate being disposed in underlying relationto said tongue and in such mannerV that their bending lines converge at an angle,

2. A fastening device for uniting sheet material,n

said gate having adjacent its bending ,line -an edge substantially underlying the bending line oi.' said tongue, said inner wall having an edge substantially coterminous with said edge of the gate,

whereby when said tongue is pressed inwardly against said gate the latter will swing inwardly providing an opening in the inner wall through which the tongue may be swung to a position which will allow the gate to be returned to its original position to bind the tongue transversely between said gate and said inner wall.

6. A fastener for folding boxes and the like in which certain parts of the object overlap other parts in juxtaposed face to face relation, said fastener comprising an outer wall, said wall having a tongue member formed integral therewith, said tongue member lying in co`planar relation to said Wall and having near its juncture with said wall a bendable portion for allowing said tongue to be bent inwardly out of the plane of said wall to a position transverse to the plane oi said wall, said tongue member having a widened portion outwardly of its bendable portion, and an inner wall having an opening therein, said inner wall having a gate member formed integral therewith, said gate member lying in oo-planar relation to said inner wall and Within said opening, said gate member having near its .juncture with said wall abendable portion for allowing the gate member to be bent inwardly out of the plane of said inner wall to a position transverse to the plane of said inner wall, said gate member having adjacent one end of its bendable portion and angularly disposed therewith a straight edge,

said edge being substantially co-extensive in length with the width of said tongue member at its bending portion, a portion of the inner wall substantially abutting said straight portion of the gate member and being substantially coextensive in length therewith, a second wall portion adjacent said first named wall portion and disposed at an angle therewith, said tongue member and said opening being registerable in such co-operative relation that the bendable portion of the tongue member overlies the straight edge of the gate member and the abutting wall portion and in parallel relation thereto 'whereby the tongue member may be bent through the said opening and be bound between the parallel edges of the gate member and the abutting ilrst named wall portion.

7. A fastening device for uniting sheet material, comprising a plurality of hinged tongue means formed integral with one sheet, an adjacent sheet having an opening co-registered with said tongue means, and hingedly associated with said opening and lying therewithin a plurality of gate means designed to grip said tongue means between said gate means and the periphery of said opening adjacent the hinged portion of said gate means, the hinged portion of said gate means and the hinged portion of said tongue means being disposed in angular relation.

CHARLEY T. PATTERSON. 

